Doctors will be key to raising productivity levels to plug shortages in workforce

Demand for healthcare workers in many of the world’s major economies, including the United Kingdom, will outstrip supply by up to 29% in the next decade, analysts have predicted.

A discussion paper by the consultancy firm KPMG warns of a “widening chasm” between the growing demand for health services and declining availability of staff in the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.1

The report forecasts a 22% to 29% gap between demand for and supply of health workers in the OECD by 2022. It puts this down to ageing workforces, more part time employment, and medical technologies requiring people with additional skills.